Galway's Heritage Oidhreacht Na Gaillimhe

GALWAY’S HERITAGE OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE Vol 40 | 2018 | Uimhir 40

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Table of Contents

Editorial ...... 1

Introduction to Seabed Mapping & Heritage ...... 2

An Archival Resource: The Galway Port Sanitary Authority Minutes . . . . 8.

Merlin Park Woods Heritage Conservation and Woodland Coppicing Project ...... 10.

Reviving an Ancient tradition in Stone Sculpture ...... 19.

Remembering Quay Lane: A tremendous place to live ...... 20

Quay Street Quay Lane Archaeological Finds Analysis ...... 24

Palaeoenvironmental Research at Quay Lane...... 25

Irish Post Medieval Archaeology Group Conference held in Galway ...... 26

Book Reviews ...... 27

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1 Editorial - A thriving local History scene, read all about it

This year’s crop of books about Galway’s Heritage and history has included some wonderful publications some of which will be revealed in the 2019 volume of this publication. The state of publication on Galway is very healthy and new authors continue to expand the horizons of historical research “Salthill a History” by Paul McGinley is the first in a multi-volume set on the history of historical research and production values and is excellent value at €30. Two smaller publications “Devon Park where it all Began” and Norbert Sheeran’s “A Georgian Memory A brief History of Merlin Park House and Estate” were both just “hot of the press” at the time of writing and both cram an enormous amount of research, good information and value between their covers. They are excellent value also at €15 and €10 respectively. Both publication, like the Salthill volume have brought their subject matter to life and have brought out the humanity, character and life of the places which they describe. They are indeed what amounts to an evocative record of people, times and places. Those readers who have not yet added Christy’s Kelly’s “Bushypark Our People - Our Place A Parish History”. Still have an opportunity to do so. Now two years in print this excellent volume is, like allPROOF the wonderful publications cited above still available (at an excellent price of €20) in all goodPLEASE bookshops.PLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR

ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE Enjoy reading!

Dr. Jim Higgins Heritage Officer

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Introduction to Seabed Mapping & Heritage Some West Coast Examples Eimear O’Keeffe, Marine Institute

Ireland has a rich and proud heritage in the fields of An area of seabed approximately ten times the size cartography and hydrography. Between 1829 and of Ireland has been mapped by INFOMAR over the 1842, the Ordnance Survey Ireland completed the last twenty years using research vessels equipped first ever large-scale survey of an entire country. with sonar technology. The acoustic imagery Acclaimed for their accuracy, these maps are acquired at depths of up to 5000 m reveal a myriad regarded by cartographers as amongst the finest of dramatic seabed features. Far from being flat, ever produced. The long history of the charting the topography of the seafloor comprises deep of the waters off the coast of Ireland began in canyons, rugged reefs, towering seamounts and the 16th century and this tradition may be said to ever-shifting sand waves (Figure 1.). All these be culminating with the current National Seabed features can be viewed for the first time in high Mapping programme – INFOMAR. The project is resolution and have provided marine scientists with jointly managed by the Geological Survey of Ireland a wealth of knowledge to support many sectors: and the Marine Institute. fisheries, weather forecasting, offshore renewable energy, conservation and navigation.

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Fig 1. Clockwise from top left: Seabed mapping coverage in Irish waters; 3D image of seabed displaying deep canyons along the edge of the continental shelf; rock outcrops rising from the seabed off the north coast; a recently discovered underwater mountain chain near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; sandwaves in the Irish Sea; swirling channels in the estuary at Ballysadare Bay, Co . Sligo .

2 How the Seabed is Mapped

Data on depth and seabed type are collected by multibeam echosounders. These systems have a transducer which is mounted to the hull of a research vessel. As the ship passes over an area, an acoustic array of signals sweeps the seabed. The beams reflect off the seabed and return to the ship where the echoes are recorded (Figure 2.). The speed of the returning signal informs the depth, also known as the bathymetry, and the strength of the returning signal gives an indication of whether it is hard or soft ground.

Ireland’s seabed mapping programme began with the mapping of our offshore waters (Irish National Seabed Survey), and in the course of just six years had mapped the deepest waters (200 – 5000 m). The current phase, INFOMAR, aims to complete the mapping work, focusing on inshore bays and the Celtic Sea. The project also aims to generate thematic maps and products for a wider audience of stakeholders. Examples of such outputs include habitat maps, geological maps and an online shipwreck resource catalogue.

The project has a fleet of vessels equipped with state-of-the-art sonar equipment. The size of the vessel and the equipment on board determine the depth at which the vessel can operate. In general, the smaller vessels map the shallow areas and the larger vessels target the deeper, offshore areas.

Fig 2b. INFOMAR survey vessels (Top- PROOFBottom): RV Celtic Voyager, RV Keary and RV Geo .

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Fig 2. Schematic illustrating how images of the seabed are acquired using a multibeam echosounder .

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Mapping Our Natural Heritage Marine Habitats

Seabed habitats constitute a large part of our change, pollution, overfishing, dredging, oil and natural heritage. Some of the most beautiful gas exploration. Challenges from the industrial marine plants and animals are found merely a few sector can be managed in a more sustainable metres from the shore in shallow depths where way to ensure that industry can prosper but not sunlight still has a major influence on the presence to the detriment of the environment. This holistic of plant life. Zostera marina (Figure 3) is a type of approach to the management of our ocean is seagrass found in shallow, coastal waters off known as marine spatial planning and habitat maps Galway and Kerry. Its lime green leaves form dense are a key component to this process (Figure 7). meadows on the seabed and it acts as a nursery habitat for juvenile fish. Along the Connemara coastline, dead fragments of calcareous seaweeds (Lithothamnion corallioides and Phymatolithon calcareum ) have built up into coral strands, their skeletal remains, originally red, now bleached a pale pink from the sun. Known as maerl, (a word originating from Brittany,) its accumulations in the shallow waters of inner Galway Bay shelter marine animals in such spectacular density that the EU Commission has labelled it a remarkable habitat (Figure 4).

Fig 3. Dogfish seeking shelter in the seagrass. At the back of Inishmore (Figure 5.), limestone cliffs are exposed to the full force of the Atlantic. Strong currents and even stronger waves add a dynamic element to an underwater environment of horizontal ledges and caves. The marine life is correspondingly enriched.

These submerged reefs are a habitat to kelp, anemones, urchins, coral, starfish, crustaceans and fish (Figure 6). Such is the diversity of life found on these reefs that they have been grantedPROOF a protective status under the EU Habitats Directive. This protection is put into practice by designating a number of areas with reef around thePLEASE coastPLEASE CONFIRM as CONFIRM BEEN THAT GIVEN YOU ALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). AccurateERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE Fig 4. Maerl in shallow waters at the coral beach in maps of the seabed are vital to ensure that correct Carraroe, Co . Galway . areas are designated. The aforementioned acoustic surveys can map the physical extent of the reef, but in order to map the sea life on and around the reef, video footage is required. This footage is obtained from underwater cameras deployed from a survey vessel using a cable or from direct observations from SCUBA divers. The recorded footage is analysed and the physical map (geological) can then be interpreted into a habitat map (biological).

There is growing concern about the potential damage to our marine environment. Habitat maps can be used to monitor any significant changes in the extent of our marine habitats which may Fig 5. 3D image of the seabed off the exposed, southwest be caused by any number of reasons: climate coast of Inishmore island, Aran Islands .

4 Fig 6. Marine life on the submerged reefs off of the Aran Islands . Top row (L-R): Kelp (Laminaria digitata); jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis); dahlia anemone (Urticina felina) . Middle row (L-R): Edible sea urchin (Echinus esculentus); dead man’s fingers (Alcyonium digitatum); bloody Henry starfish (Henricia oculata) . Bottom row (L-R): Lobster (Homarus gammarus); soft coral (Alcyonium glomeratum); spider crabPROOF (Maja squinado).

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Fig 7. Habitat map for the management of Kenmare River Special Area of Conservation.

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The Real Map of Inishbofin

In July 2012, the INFOMAR team arrived at Inishbofin, off the coast of Co Galway, with the goal of mapping the underwater terrain surrounding the island. This was to be the first time that INFOMAR had carried out a seabed survey encompassing an island. The island’s coastline and inshore waters presented a difficult challenge in terms of safe navigation. However, the final image shows a three-dimensional map of the seafloor surrounding Inishbofin and its neighbour, Inishark, providing a useful tool for the people to present their island in the context of its rich marine heritage (Figure 8). Fig 8. The full extent of rock that make up the islands of Inishboffin and Inishark off the coast of Mayo.

Mapping Our Maritime Heritage Shipwrecks

It is estimated that there are over 12,000 shipwrecks in Irish waters (Figure 9.). During the course of mapping the seabed, a number of shipwrecks were found. Some had been recorded previously by the UK Hydrographics Office. Others were discovered for the first time by the acoustic surveys. INFOMAR, in conjunction with the Underwater Archaeology Unit, maintains a detailed geodatabase for over 300 wrecks it has surveyed. The database comprises a comprehensive description of location, wreck condition, extent, and dimension and water depth.

Some of the more interesting shipwrecks have been remapped to produce a photo realistic image of the vessel on the seafloor. These data have alsoPROOF been used to generate 3D models of the shipwrecks, giving greater insight to the wreck, its condition and Fig 9. Shipwrecks observed in Irish waters during the PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOU ALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR the surrounding site (Figures 10 and 11). course of the INFOMAR survey . ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE

Fig 10. SS Tiberia . Fig 11. SS Chirripo .

6 Historical Mapping

Older hydrographic surveys undertaken by the marked on the older chart using the letter “R”, but Royal Navy used lead lines to determine the depth the extent of the rock is not as apparent. The depth, along survey transects. Thanks to advances in or sounding, is marked on the chart as a number technology, notably the advent of the multibeam and areas between the recorded soundings do echosounders in the early nineties, ships are not show any data. In contrast, the multibeam now capable of surveying large areas far more image shows continuous coverage that reveals the quickly and to a level of detail that would have true nature of the topography of the seabed. The been inconceivable fifty years ago. A comparison advantages of this for navigation are immense. between sonar imagery and historical chart data All of the historical Admiralty Charts, maintained for Inishmore highlights the difference in detail by the UK Hydrographic Office, are being updated between the two types of map (Figure 12). The presently with data from the INFOMAR survey. rugged bedrock on the seabed is clearly visible on the acoustic image. These rock outcrops are

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Fig 12. Image shows the seabed off ofPLEASE InishmorePLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN asTHAT GIVENseen YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTANDon RESULTa multibeam RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEESechosounder THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOTimage BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED (left) RESPONSIBILITY and AND OF on APPROVEDMY an WORK. FORAdmiralty Chart (right) . ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE

Closing Remarks References

The INFOMAR project will continue to map the 1. Viney, M. 2003. Ireland. Blackstaff seabed for the foreseeable future, providing key Press. Belfast. datasets for the sustainable management of our greatest natural resource. All of the data, maps This article is based on a talk given at the 8th and outreach material produced from the seabed Annual Galway City Heritage Conference 2018 mapping programme are freely available to view which had as its theme Oileán na h-Éireann, and download from the INFOMAR website: Ireland’s Islands. www.infomar.ie.

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An Archival Resource: The Galway Port Sanitary Authority Minutes Patria McWalter

Galway County Council Archives hold a volume of every two months, later often quarterly, but by the minutes for the Galway Port Sanitary Authority, late 1920s they were often held just twice a year. dating from 1902 to 1948 (reference code GCCA GPSA/1). The Authority was set up under the Local The first caretaker of the Incepting Hospital was Government Board (Ireland) Provisional Orders William Dolan. He retired due to failing eyesight in Confirmation (No.4) Act, 1902 (also referred to as 1914 and was succeeded by John Carroll until 1918. Galway Sanitary Order 1902), to manage the public John left the post to seek employed elsewhere, at health matters of Galway Port; most especially which point his wife, Mary, was caretaker until 1948. to prevent infectious diseases being brought Mr Michael McNeill was elected Chairman of the ashore from any ships entering the Port. The joint Board at its meeting of 10th December 1902; Authority was formed as a joint board consisting a position he held for a number of years. John of representatives of members of several Sanitary Malachi Leech1 was elected Clerk to the Board at Authorities, namely those covering the Urban that meeting. District of Galway, and Rural Districts of Galway, Gort and Oughterard in County Galway and According to the minutes Leech advised the Board Ballyvaughan and Ennistymon, County Clare. at its January 1903 meeting that the hospital ‘very badly needed some repairs’. From 1905 until 1907 The Board consisted of 17 members, elected from the meetings were dominated by the subject of a the respective component authorities. The Joint new hospital building. The estimated cost for its Board’s jurisdiction extended from Golam Head construction was £630 (GPSA/1, p27). A tender in County Galway to Hag’s Head in County Clare in the sum of £599 from F Lydon was accepted at together with the water of the port of Galway. the September 1906 meeting (GPSA/1, p29). In A subsequent Order, the Galway Port Sanitary October 1907 the Board’s Clerk, Leech, reported (Adaptation) Order, 1932, re-constituted the ‘that the old Hospital building at Renmore Point Board given that Rural District Councils ceased to was completely destroyed by fire on the 2nd inst.’ exist since 1925. Thereafter the joint Board was At the same meeting the Engineer advised that the comprised of 8 elected members of the Galway ‘new building was now completed and that he had Urban District Council, 7 of Galway County Council, certified that the Contractor be paid the balance and 2 from Clare County Council. The Authority due on the Contract (£99)…’ (GPSA/1, p43-45). was abolished in April 1948. PROOF The minutes further reveal that in early 1911 several The minutes of the proceedings of the Authority PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTANDpatients RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA were TOISUPPLY FEES THIS transferred AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEENfrom INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED the RESPONSIBILITY Galway AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. Union FOR are held in a bound volume of circa 500 pages, ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTERhospital THIS POINT. toI ACKNOWLEDGE the Intercepting THAT CHANGES Hospital MADE AFTER suffering APPROVAL HAVE measuring 21 x 33 cm. The minutes include from beri-beri2 (Feb-Jun 1911). In March 1922 the the date of the meeting and attendance details ‘Hospital was commandeered by the Military together with details on the business transacted Authorities on the 22nd December and vacated on and some correspondence. Many of the entries the 26th January 1921 and again taken over on the consist of quotes or summaries of letters received, 7th February and handed over on 5th March’ generally from the Local Government Board. (31 March 1922). The Authority was concerned with the In March 1931 the minutes include a report of management of the Incepting Hospital (Isolation) Sanitary Sub-officer, Thomas Cantwell (who held which was situated on a two acre site at Renmore that position from 1929-1948), advising that he Point. This was leased from the Governors of the ‘had inspected ten ships from July to December Erasmus Smiths Schools, with the annual estimates 1930, and the destruction of a Parrott under of expenses and from the 1930s includes details of the Importation of Parrots Order (Temporary the number of vessels inspected for the purpose Regulations) 1930’ (31 March 1931). of preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Meetings were generally held sporadically, initially

1 The 1911 census reveal Leech (born in circa 1878) was also a Commercial Teacher and Accountant. At that time he and his wife Kathleen had 4 daughters, Laura, Kathleen, Mary and Evelyn. They lived at 10 in St. Helen's Street (close to Dominick Street).

8 By 1933 consideration was given to discontinuing use of the Isolation Hospital on the basis that it had not been required for many years past, and in 1947 consideration was given to assigning the lease of the Hospital to the Trustees of the Galway Yacht Club.

A renewal of the lease of the land at Renmore Point granted by the Governors of Erasmus Smith Schools to the Galway Port Sanitary Authority for 40 years as from 1st November 1946, at £5 per year, was signed in March 1948. At the same meeting the lease was assigned by the Board to the Trustees of Cumann Seoltoireachta na Gaillimh for a nominal fee (GSPA/1, 30 Mar 1948).

To learn more about the Authority and the Incepting Hospital access to the minutes is by appointment at the Archives. Details on Galway County Council Archives’ holding are available on its online catalogue at http://gccapps.galwaycoco.ie/archives/AIS5

Patria McWalter Archivist, Galway County Council Archives

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Fig 1. Extract from the Minuets of Port Sanitary Authority October 12th, 1907 Chart. (right) .

2 A nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1 and characterised by impairment of the nerves and heart.

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Merlin Park Woods Heritage Conservation and Woodland Coppicing Project Caroline Stanley & Colin Stanley

Introduction Aims

Merlin Park Woods is located on the East side Creating Awareness of Stone wall construction of Galway city. It is the oldest and largest urban and repair using traditional methods. Initiating woodland habitat within the city of Galway. It is a a Woodland Coppicing Programme, a return mixed woodland habitat with both historic, natural to traditional methods and to study effects on features. Some of the historic walls may be related biodiversity. With the woods embedded in an to its late 15th/16th century tower house and its Urban Environment, it has suffered greatly from past as an old estate owned by the Blakes and later neglect and anti-social behaviour. We hope by by the Waithman family. In its centre is the Merlin initiating these projects we can create a sense of Park Hospital original built on this greenfield site local community ownership and pride. Restoring as a TB hospital in the 1950’s. Remnants of a small the beautiful old walls that run through the conifer plantation which was planted in the 1960’s woodlands. In the long-term, we will look to develop managed by the State Forestry Department still community enterprise ideas which may help with exist within the woodlands. Its management now is the continuation of the projects. The woodland divided between the HSE who manage the South coppicing impact will no doubt have an impact Woods and meadow habitats and the North Woods on the biodiversity and we hope to have a better managed by Galway City Council. It is a popular knowledge of species and data so with increased local amenity and an area of high biodiversity with flora we should see an impact the following year wildlife such as Red Squirrels, Foxes, Bats, birds and into the future with the continuation of the and a large diverse population of butterflies, bees, project. wildflower and orchid species.

Friends of Merlin Woods a local voluntary group promote the positive uses and the protectionPROOF of this valuable historical, wildlife habitat and local amenity. They are involved in citizen science PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR recording the wildlife that inhabit the woodlands, ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE running litter-picks, workshops and events promoting both its natural and historical elements.

Common Blue Butterfly by Colin Stanley

10 Project Leaders Biographies

Caroline Stanley, Using the coppiced Hazel wood, hazel hurdle fence Friends of Merlin Woods panels were built and used in the garden to create volunteering and organising a nice backdrop to an herb bed and complementing events and projects in Merlin the stonewall features behind it. Park Woods since 2012. Organiser and facilitator She also ran greenwood craft workshops of events in the woodland giving people practical experiences on using habitats from biodiversity greenwood hazel for creating garden tripods, weeks, heritage weeks, litter stools, trellis and how to create wooden dowels to picks, and cultural events. Works with local schools joinwoods together. She was the perfect choice to bring experts to educate on biodiversity and his- to conduct the workshops as she engaged well tory. Has led educational walks for local community, with participants, her knowledge of woodland An Taisce, schools during heritage and Biodiversity coppicing brought a great deal to the project with weeks. Collects data on the species and records her understanding of the relationship between to National Biodiversity Data Centre for the last 5 coppicing and biodiversity through research she years. Organised a Bio blitz with experts visiting the had carried out on existing projects.start to finish. woods to record flora, organised previous Heritage grants working with schools on Archaeology Field School and a Bat Survey of the woods. Fergus Packman is a local stonemason in Galway Her responsibility was as Project management, working with stone for administration and support labour. Part of over twenty years. Fergus the process was to engage with the public to Packman trained with the participate in the project, communicate to the National Trust on the Ysbyty public the projects progression throughout the Estate in Wales between project, liaise with Galway City Council and Dr Jim 1993 and 1994 and qualified Higgins, Galway City Heritage Officer to maintain as a dry-stone Waller with a high standard and that work carried out was in the Dry-Stone Walling Association of Great Britain. keeping with the projects ideals, ensuring all safety Becoming a dry-stone wall contractor on the same requirements were fulfilled. She was available estate, he carried out numerous projects from during the project to both the project leaders and straight mountain walls to complicated sheep pens. the project participants and was also a participant From around 2000, he continued his training as a in the stonewalling and woodland coppicing stonemason with George Richardson and John O practice. To compile with the aid of PROOFthe leaders the Donnell in Galway before becoming self-employed project report and photograph the progress from in 2004 to concentrate on working on traditional start to finish. stone walling to present day. The walls of Merlin PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED INPark THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY Woods FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 are WILL DELAYS HAS mainly NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED of RESPONSIBILITYlimestone AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. origin FOR and ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT.we I ACKNOWLEDGE needed someone THAT CHANGES who MADE was AFTER sympathetic APPROVAL HAVE to Debbie Reilly was the the styles seen in the Galway area. His interest in woodland coppicing leader. biodiversity and the importance of stonewalls as She had already built up a re- habitats or how they are used by mammals, birds lationship in the community and insects within the woodland and how the work through her previous he creates blends the restored walls with existing projects in Merlin Woods walls made him the ideal candidate. He was also working as part of the patient with participants and precise in getting the Galway 2020 Our Place in best from each of them to ensure the work they Merlin Woods where she were creating was set to the highest standard Dr coppiced an area of woodland and used the Jim Higgins, Galway City Heritage Officer, engaged greenwood coppiced to create an artistic with us in an advisory capacity to ensure all work setting in the coppiced area and created coppiced carried out was enhancing the woodlands as we wooden structures to complete the work. She has wanted to ensure the work carried out created no also worked with the local community garden in damage to the environment and restoring the old Merlin Woods, giving guidance on coppicing areas walls would be done to the highest standards. He surrounding the garden as it is embedded on the consulted with us before the project started and woodland edge and creates the link between the during the progress of the project. garden and the woodland.

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Methodology: Methodology for Stone Wall Restoration Workshops

Preparatory Work Days Introduction to coppicing including practical, historical and ecological reasons. Survey conservation sites and assess any risk factors in the work area. Working with the Health and Safety – Participants will be introduced woodland coppicer, we will remove the sapling to the hand tools we will be using in the woods and trees/shrubbery that impede the workspace and given a demonstration on the techniques, uses that may cause further damage to the walls in the and maintenance of them. These include bowsaw, future. Clear the working areas and prepare the loppers, axe, secateurs Information on Safety workspaces for the trainees, laying out the stones Wear including gloves, boots and weather appro- required ahead of the workshops for easing in to priate clothing. Examples of traditional building the introductory workshops. Complete a sample techniques of Dowelling, Knotwork and Weaving panel of walling for participants to visualise the Species identification. finished wall. Identify areas to be coppiced within the work space with the participants. Preparation and storage of coppiced wood. Each workshop will consist of Workshop Days 2x3hrs with a break for lunch. No more than 10 participants per workshop with the aim of having a Induction completed section at the end of each workshop. Basic health and Safety Instruction on lifting techniques, ensuring appropriate dress (personal protection equipment). The Preparatory Workshops Brief outline of the work including information of On the 29th July a Site Visit by both Debbie Reilly the type of stone that we will be working on, style and Fergus Packman to the area of where the of walling to be repaired and a brief history of the first participatory workshops would be started. site. The benefits of stonewalling to the historic They identified any health and safe issues which location and to the wildlife environment. may arise and accessed any risks to participants. Workshop Between them both they decided on a course of action to be taken in the initial preparatory workday, Each day will consist of 2 x 3hr sessions per wall what trees would be needed to be removed that repair workshop with no more than 10 individuals impeded the stonewall restoration/building and with the aim of completing a standalone project at which may be added obstacles to completing the the end of the works PROOFwork. Methodology for Woodland Coppicing PLEASE CONFIRM YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ISUPPLY / ID3 WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR Site Preparation: PLEASE CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN ALL ARTWORKMAY RESULT RELATED IN EXTRA TO FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT DELAYS HAS BEEN IN COMPLETION REVIEWED AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE • Biodiversity survey • Creating access to the area for Fergus Packman and the dry stone wall restoration. • Identification of trees orf coppicing and standards

12 13 Pillar areas and wall features to be restored, trees to be coppiced. Coppicing to be done around wall area where trees impact the restoration.

Preparatory Workday

The area around the stone pillars and wall were completely overgrown with hazel, ash and ‘Old man’s beard’. The ground around the area was very uneven with fallen stones and trees. After a risk assessment, and safety precautions put in place, Debbie coppiced the ash and hazel to open the area around the wall leaving a beautiful hawthorn and holly growing either side of the newly accessible path through the pillars. Fergus then cleared back the soil and mosses from the piles of fallen stones along the wall and moved the stones aside bringing the ground levelPROOF back to the original. He also restored a pillar, so the workshop attendees could see how the other pillar should look on the introductory workshops.PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED INCoppiced THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / Hazel.ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE

Pillar surrounded by scrub growth and trees pre -coppicing.

Restored pillar and coppiced area around it. Trees cleared and coppiced.

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Stone Wall Restoration Workshops: Introduction to Stonewalling

The first workshop we began was a half day Stone Wall Workshops workshop, introducing the participants to working with the limestone and to give them a chance Full Day Workshop to complete a first project which would be the The wall which was to be worked on was in a second pillar, the first being completed during considerable style of disrepair. One of its features the preparatory day. Health and Safety induction was a step style and it was felt that it would be and manual handling was carried out, checking beneficial to completely rebuild for both structural appropriate personal protection footwear and integrity and as an educational experience. gloves and identifying any possible hazards. A short talk was given on dry-stone walling and working Participants dismantling the old wall, sorting the with limestone. stones into various piles keeping note of the stones that were used as part of the step style. The participants worked to recreate the second pillar and allowed them to get used to working The project over the next few workshops was to with available stone from the area around them. restore and rebuild a T-wall consisting of approxi- Also making them conscious of the vernacular mately 12-15 square metres. The step style would architecture in the area to ensure the work they did be built in its original location. A crush style would blended with existing stonewall. also be built sympathetic to the modern usage of a well-used gap in the wall along with a stop end to learn the method of creating other features in stonewalling.

The walls were methodically dismantled. Material was separated into:

Foundation Stones

First Lift Stones: first lay of big stones

Through Stones: Stones that run through the wall from face to face at metre intervals at knee-height.

Participants and Leader Fergus Packman Hearting/Packing Stones: Stones used to fill up the stand beside restored pillar. middle of the wall Coping Stones: a vertical course PROOFof similar sized stones approximately 12 inches that sit along the top of the finished wall, serving both decorative and structural purposes. PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR

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Restored pillars front view.

14 15 When working with a finite resource, it is important Full Day Workshop to ensure you have adequate amounts of these stone materials and if new material was to be brought in that it is in keeping with traditional dry-stone wall restorative practice. It was an important part of the process for the participants to be aware of the distinct types of stone as in this instance we were using the material available to us in the woodlands.

Top Lift -Final layer before the coping stones, important to have the stones running into it lengthways for strength. Front view of T-Wall.

Rear view of T-Wall.

Volunteers were encouraged to work at a steady pace, focus on quality of work, rather than quantity. They were also encouraged to build with the green mossy side of the stone exposed to blend in any restorative work with existing old walls. Coping PROOFstones were in Place. Step style was in place. The T-Wall was coming together.

PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR Foundations were 26 inches at the bottomERRORS IN DESIGNand 18 AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE inches at the top.

Camber and Batter of the wall

Profile bars were used to set out the wall, then a string line was used to keep the wall straight and maintain the batter.

By the end of this day foundations stones were in, and the walls were up to the first step in the step style.

15 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

Fergus and some of the participants after a Finished wall with Crush stile and Step stile. long and wet day.

Outcome of the Projects

Saving an important feature of the woodlands history which adds to the stories of the families who once lived here.

Maintains a traditional craft and passes the knowledge on. Attracted visitors and got great response from local people who loved to see this type of work going on in the woodlands. A major source of conversation, a beautiful visual impact to the woodland walks. Participants went away happy that they had learnt a new skill or improved a skill they had previous experience in but little training or direction in previously. They left with an appropriate level of competence and practical experience to PROOFtake away and perhaps become more involved in The string line to keep the wall straight and maintain the camber. stonewalling in future projects here or elsewhere. PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTANDA RESULT sense RELATED IN THAT EXTRA of prideTOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT in/ ID3 the WILL DELAYS HASwork NOT BEEN INACCEPT achieved. COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OFAs APPROVEDMY the WORK. FOR

ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTERweather THIS POINT. Iwas ACKNOWLEDGE often wet THAT atCHANGES times MADE on AFTER the APPROVALdays of HAVE the This wall has been tied into an existing stonewall workshops, it was great to see people still eager to so important to blend the restored wall with the old carry on and work through it. wall. This wall also has a crush style feature, using an existing walkthrough to maintain the existing Although Fergus Packman had worked with path through here. It gives the participants the training apprentices this was his first experience opportunity to learn a new skill in stonewalling. of running a workshop. He felt as the project progressed, he grew into the project himself and was delighted with the end results. The participants responded well to his direction and produced a beautiful piece of dry stonewalling to a high standard which is a stunning addition to the local built environment.

Another feature of the wall is the Stop end.

16 17 Woodland Coppicing Workshops Coppiced area beside the area of stonewalling workshops. Saturday August 5th Introduction to Woodland Coppicing Workshop outcomes: Community Engagement Debbie went through the risk assessment, a safety talk and demonstration of the techniques and tools - Introduction to the silviculture of hazel coppicing used in traditional coppicing. In the area behind the as forestry management and its role in preserving stone pillars, we then identified and tagged the trees biodiversity in our woodland including the to be coppiced leaving holly, hawthorn, beech and re-establishment of a neglected hazel stool willow as the standards. Throughout the afternoon we then worked coppicing the area, opening the • Create a new area of discovery within the woods canopy allowing light to stream into the woods. We and access to the newly restored stonework coppiced up to the edge of the old conifer plantation with the hope that the new growth will encroach • Butterfly and habitat conservation into it. As we coppiced we separated the harvested • Native tree conservation wood into three categories… Large branches, Small branches and shrubby tips of branches. The large • Research into encouraging new growth into and small branches were stockpiled discretely in conifer area the woods and Debbie has been using it for several different workshops and projects in the community Area 2 - limestone area: workshop 2+3 since. The smaller shrubby offcuts were traditionally placed around the coppiced stool to prevent deer and livestock from eating the new growth. As this isn’t needed in Merlin Woods, we created stacks in the woods which will become a habitat for a multitude of creatures.

PROOFThis area was chosen because of its unique biodiversity within the woodlands. It is home to Early Purple Orchids, Harebells, Wild Thyme, and Carline PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED INThistle, THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS and AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 these WILL DELAYS HAS NOT plants BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED can RESPONSIBILITY be AND OF found APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR in no other ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT.area I ACKNOWLEDGE of the woodlands. THAT CHANGES Over MADE AFTER the APPROVALyears this HAVE area has become encroached by Hazel, Gorse and Old Man’s Beard, a clematis with vigorous growth.

To preserve these species and encourage more growth of these species, it was an ideal candidate for the coppicing project. Because it is encircled by trees, it is also a very good habitat for butterflies because it holds the heat and is a sheltered location.

We raked back the ground in the area removing ivy and young beech and sycamore saplings which are dominant and invasive in the area. This is to encourage biodiversity and the growth of ground flora such as dog violets, lesser Celandine and other flowering plants that grow in various parts of the woods.

17 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

Below Ciaran Bruton in foreground clearing small branches and clematis while Jim Mc Manus and Debbie Reilly work on bigger branches

Butterfly habitat conservation is another reason we chose the limestone area for coppicing. We coppiced hazel, ash, beech and sycamore on the periphery of the limestone crop to increase the exposed ground allowing the ground flora to flourish. The trees in this area were completely overgrown and smothered with ‘Old Man’s Beard’ with the canopy of the trees weaved with the vine. As we coppiced and removed the scrub, several stunted trees of oak, whitebeam and crab apple were found and given a new lease of life as they stretched and stood tall taking in the new light. We used the wood harvested from the coppicing in this area to create two small hazel hurdle fences defining our preferred entrance to the area and fill out gaps in the trees where we would like to avoid increased footfall. We also created two experiments in this area ring-barking an A lovely oak growing on the limestone established hazel and ‘dead man’s beard’. PROOFpavement area.

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Ring barking/girdling is when a ring of bark is removed impeding the flow of nutrients to the roots eventually killing the tree. It may be useful if it works for long-term removal of young beech and sycamore which can out compete some of our native species as we have seen in other areas of the woods where they are dominant. We identified a few new young oaks in this area as well once we had cleared back clematis and Hazel.

18 19 Reviving an Ancient Tradition in Stone Sculpture Dr. Jim Higgins

For anyone interested in stone carving in limestone and who would like to have a stone plaque bearing their coat of arms (or indeed any other type of stone carvings which they would like to commission). Many options are available from Galway Stone Design working at Claregalway Castle, Co. Galway.

The carvings are of a superb quality and in many ways they are a revival of the sort of skilled stone carving for which Galway City was justifiably famous in the late medieval period, and most Fig 3. A replica of the Athy Doorway of 1577 the doorway especially between the early 1500’s and the 1650’s. now in Galway City Museum once graced the front of an Athy family mansion in Abbeygate Street, Galway .

PROOF Fig 1. Some arms of the Galway Tribes, including the arms Fig 4. Not all of the work made by Galway Stone Design is of Deane, Bodkin and Browne . in stone . This composite imitation chimney piece based PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR on a French example is a superb moulded work of art . ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE

Fig 2. The wonderful tradition of impaled arms on plaques and chimney pieces which was so common in Galway City and parts of County Galway is reflected in this heraldic panel . On it the arms of the couple are impaled (combined in a single shield with the motto of the man’s arms, and the dates of birth of their children are all wonderfully Fig 5. A composite cast replica of the Athy Doorway of and simply represented . This style and tradition was 1577 . Te original door case would have had a plain sub- particularly common in Galway City between the 1570’s base under the stop blocks which raised the height of the and 1650’s and is found on numerous so called “Marriage door . The original (which is in Galway City Museum) bears Stones” whether on chimney pieces or heraldic plaques or the arms of one of the Athys along with his merchants houses . mark flanked by the date 1577.

19 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

Remembering Quay Lane: A tremendous place to live Susanna Robinson

My family lived at number 4. I was born in the house and great fun. My uncle Paddy had an altar made by in 1948 and delivered by my great grandmother him and always kept a picture of the Sacred Heart Susan Kelly and a neighbour, Mrs Flaherty from the and a candle alight there on the wall of the living house opposite which is now a tea shop. My sister room, Mary was born in the house one year later. Our Uncle Paddy Kelly, his niece Kathleen and our great The Shaughnessy family lived on the street next grandmother looked after us for 3 years whilst our to the Hernons. We played with Kay and Collette. I parents were living and working in England. I was think their father had a taxi. born to the sound of the Angelus bells. On the corner was Mary Jo. I don’t ever recall At the time we had no cot so Claire Sheridan, a seeing her but we could hear her always saying the cousin of Sir Winston Churchill, lent us hers. She rosary whatever time of day we passed the house. was a painter who lived in the house adjoining the Behind our house was the back of McDonaghs Spanish Arch which was the museum for many family house. Their boys PJ and Seán were great years after she left Galway. friends of my brother John and were always calling Our great grandmother was a widow who always to each other before meeting up to play. wore black, including a shawl. She reared her own At night we could hear the Quay Stream always 14 children. When my mother’s mother died in flowing. We could hear people laughing on their childbirth in 1923 she brought up another family, way home over the bridge and be woken in the my mother and her sister Mary Ellen and their morning by the sound of seagulls and the smell of brother Tim. She was helped by her son Paddy freshly baked bread cooked over a turf fire. and niece Kathleen. She was a very devout woman and a great singer. She taught my mother and her I miss it tremendously. brother the words of many songs and they would have lovely evenings in the house around the fire singing song after song. Galway Bay was always the favourite. My mother and her brother would go on to sing with Sonny Molloy and others at weddings and wakes and were in great demand.

At number 5 Quay lane lived Sarah Toole, her brother Josie and their father Michael. HerPROOF father was always, it seemed to us, a very old man who

smoked a pipe. He would come into UnclePLEASE PLEASEPaddy’s CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR at number 4 some evenings and tell tales ofERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE leprechauns and such things. We always thought the statue in Eyre Square [Padraic O’Conaire] was of him. Next to Sarahs was the BP Garage owned by Tommy Rabbitte and Rory Cooke. Both lovely gentlemen. That then became the Punchbag theatre. We would watch plays there then go into Sarah’s for tea in the interval.

The pub at the corner would also sell bread. My This photograph features Mary Atler who aunt would send me down for a ‘pan’ loaf which I lived in a shop where oil was sold at Quay Lane. The photograph was taken at the had not heard of before. My mother’s best friend Spanish Arch Fishmarket, photograph Mary Allen and her parents had a shop which courtesy of Sue Robinson. mostly appeared to sell candles, matches and oil. It had a distinctive smell. There was a counter in the shop. This is now Cobwebs.

At number 3 lived the Hernon brothers Michael and Paddy. Michael was a designer in the hat factory and also liked to paint. Paddy would carve beautiful churches and make cottages from turf. Lovely men

20 Mr Hernon, Quay Lane. Photography courtesy John, Sue and Mary Kelly at Quay Lane in 2012. of Sue Robinson. Photograph courtesy of Sue Robinson. PROOF

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Susan Kelly (Grandmother) Shaughnessy Susanna Robinson from Quay Lane at Boys & friend. Photography courtesy of Sue Fishmarket with the Spanish Arch and the old Robinson. museum in the background.

21 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

Michael Hernon of Quay Lane & (Left to righ): Josie Toole, Paddy Hernon, Sue Mary Ellen Heaney. Photograph courtesy of Robinson, her sister Mary, a friend (Mary Kelly), Sue Robinson. her brother John & her father Phil Kelly in Quay Lane sometime in the 1970’s. Photograph courtesy of Sue Robinson.

Annie Kelly (left), her aunts and her sister, with (Left to righ): Josu Toole, Paddy Hernon, sue (on far right) Mary Ellen Heaney outside No. 4 Robinson, her sister Mary, a friend (Mary Kelly), Quay Lane. Photograph courtesy of her brother John & her father Phil Kelly in Sue Robinson. Quay Lane sometime in the 1970’s. PROOFPhotograph courtesy of Sue Robinson.

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Susanna Robinson, her uncle Paddy Kelly Sarah Toole of No. 5 Quay Lane and her sister Mary at Quay Lane. Outside her house which was white washed at Photograph courtesy of Sue Robinson. the time.

22 Tommy Holohan & Sue Robinson at an exhibition of Albert Kahn photographs. In Galway City museum, Masaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe. A photograph of Nan O’Toole is visible in the back ground.

Quay Lane students Mary Allen and unidentified. Photograph courtesy of Sue Robinson.

Rear Quay Lane with McDonaghs Fertilizers (where Jurys Hotel is now) in the background. PROOF

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In the Herons House Quay Lane The painting of the Spanish Arch on the wall behind was done by Sue Robinson. Quay Lane Late 1960’s or early 1970’s. Photograph courtesy of Sue Robinson.

23 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

Quay Street Quay Lane Archaeological Finds

Analysis Dr. Jim Higgins & Frank Coyne.

Archaeological excavations at No’s 25 Quay Street building. The slates used at the site included Blue and No’s 2 – 5 Quay Lane have been completed Bangors and in the 19th and 20th century but stone and a small glass covered slot has been left in and slate from various sources were also found. No. 25 Quay Street so that a very small section of Schist and greisse were used for roofing slates part of the of the 13thCentury outer wall of the probably in the late medieval period and schist de Burgo Castle can be seen. The finds from the slates were used in the 17th century at places like excavations have been numbered and tagged and the Cromwellian fort at Arkins Castle on Árainn cleaned for analysis. The objects recovered include as well. Stone tiles of Liscannor or Malby stone a large number of medieval, late medieval, and were also used. These sorts of stone were used post medieval timbers which were mainly reused extensively also at Rosserrilly Abbey near Headford in the 19th century refurbishment of the building Co. Galway. Similar material at the Quay Lane Quay on the site, but also included some later 19th and Street site was used as paving. Pounding stones 20th century timbers as well. Among the timbers and smoothing stones made from black pebbles were frameworks for daub and wattle screens were also recovered. The bricks include examples which formed the internal walls of some medieval of 18th and 19th century types of various sizes and and late medieval buildings. Similar timbers have locally made brick, brick from the Annaghdown been found elsewhere in Galway, most recently at and Clonboo areas as well as a few Scottish No. 6 Upper Abbeygate Street and in Garavan's in imports were in evidence. The pottery from the site Shop Street. Also found were some reused ships included high quality imported French wares and timbers which had been reused as a wall plate. The we look forward to the identification of some of the organic layers at the site are undergoing analysis more unusual items from the assemblage. Animal at present and this works is grand aided by The bone, shell, insect remains as well as fish bones Heritage Council and Galway City Council. Dr. Karen and other organic material from the site continues Molloy and Dr. Carlos Chique are working on the to be analysed. Apart from metal items like nails production of a pollen core from the site andPROOF the and spikes, one coin from the site remains to be results are tantalising. Cereal processing or storage identified and other items include some leather seem to have been occurring at the site and one and wood. The glass bottle found seems to be of of the interesting finds from the materialPLEASE PLEASEseems CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTANDlate RESULT date RELATED IN THAT EXTRA but TOISUPPLY FEES aTHIS lot AND/OR PROJECT / more ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS analysis NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED needs RESPONSIBILITY AND OF to APPROVEDMY be WORK. FOR done to be evidence for walnut shells. The radio ERRORScarbon IN DESIGN AFTERyet. THIS POINT.The publicationI ACKNOWLEDGE THATof the CHANGES site MADEresults AFTER will APPROVAL certainly HAVE dates from the core will undoubtedly be of great be interesting and we have also to publish a social interest. It would be wonderful if the de Burgo history of the site and would be very interested in Castle dates were augmented by earlier dates getting as many photographs of people associated or evidence for the Irish (O’Connor) fortification with Quay Lane. Sue Robinson (nee Kelly) Phyllis at the site. The architectural fragments from the Lydon from Quay Lane, Tom Kenny, Roy Palmer site include dressed stone with diagonal tooling and others have already provided us with some made using bolsters and querks and possibly with wonderful images of the place and its people and masons’ adzes. Evidence of 12th – 13th century we would be delighted to receive as many more workmanship, late 15th to early 16th pick dressed images as possible to fill the gaps. The Man of tooling also occurs on stone work. Some late Aran is now open for business and has proved 15th/16th style mouldings profiles are used as immensely popular. It is wonderful to see what late as the 1580’s to circa 1610 at the site even was an important series of buildings brought back though the dressings of the stones is very different. into use. Seán Duane and Co., are completing the Some 18th century stonework also occurs. The installation of the restored first floor stone framed moulding profiles of architectural fragments at windows on the Quay Street side and David Duffy the site, the presence of in situ door fragments is working with the stone masons to complete and the discovery of used and reused door and the restoration of the late medieval door which window fragments provided the basis for the survived from circa 1500’s - 1600’s on the Quay reconstruction of windows and doors at the Lane side.

24 Palaeoenvironmental Research at Quay Lane Karen Molloy and Carlos Chique

In September 2017 a short sediment core was taken from within the medieval site being excavated by Aegis Archaeology Ltd. in Quay Lane, Galway City Centre. Initial inspection of the core, which includes layers of (upper) organic and (lower) inorganic sediments, revealed a large amount of (yet to be identified) bone and plant material. Palaeoenvironmental analysis - primarily the examination of fossil pollen and macrofossils of the core - is currently being carried out at the Palaeoenvironmental Research Unit (PRU), School of Geography and Archaeology, NUIG. The aim of this project is to gain an insight into local environments prior to the construction of and/ or contemporaneous with the building of the 13th century Norman (de Burgo) fortification. Highlights from preliminary analyses include records of large quantities of cereal-type pollen and a rich weed flora with many species likely associated with arable ecosystems. The results are tentatively interpreted as reflective of a domestic site in which Fossilized cereal-type pollen (57μm) from the storage, processing and/or disposal of cereal crops sediment core obtained at Quay Lane was ubiquitous. We await the results of radiocarbon dating to reveal the age at which sediments began to accumulate at the site and the time-framePROOF represented by the sediment core.

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Carlos Chique and Karen Molloy examining the sediment core from Quay Lane

25 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

Irish Post - Medieval Archaeology Group Conference held in Galway

IPMAG is the Irish Post – Medieval Archaeology Congratulations to all concerned on the success of Group and has been in existence now for over what was a stimulating and enjoyable event. 25 years. For the first time ever it held a very successful conference in Galway in February 2018 The poster for the I.P.M.A.G conference , by the at the Harbour Hotel and attendees were brought way included in image by the great folklore and folk on tours of Galway’s late and Post Medieval life expert Caoimhín Ó Danachair of a man selling Archaeology and buildings by the Heritage Officer. his hand -woven basket work at the market in The group also had several guided tours of Woodquay in Galway. Franks Coyne’s wonderful excavations of the 13th The conference was very well attended and it century Anglo-Norman castle site (and possibly it’s would be wonderful (if funding was available) to O’Connor precursor ?) on the corner of quay Street have the talks from the conference published in and Quay Lane. book form.

PROOF

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Fig 2. Left to right, Cllr John Walsh who deputised on behalf of the Mayor of Galway, Dr James Lyttleton, Dr Jim Higgins Heritage Officer and Frank Coyne at the launch of the IPMAG conference at the Harbour Hotel .

Fig 1. Selling baskets work at Woodquay, Galway . It would be wonderful to be able to identify the man and the boy in the picture which was taken in the 1940’s, The image is copyright of the Irish Folklore Department at University College Dublin, Belfield.

26 BookBook ReviewsReviews

after the nine years war resulted in the multiplication An Archaeology of of new monument types castles, bawns military earth works town walls fortified mansions and new Northern Ireland settlements all became established. Massively large Jacobean mansions were likewise a feature.

1600 -1650 In 1605 Chichester ordered the firing of a million By Rowan McLoughlin and James Lyttleton bricks for his Belfast mansion. Buildings of new types and scale also attended the architectural landscape. Published by Department of The end of the Nine Years War in 1608 and the Flight of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnell in 1607 speeded Communities, Colour Print the colonizing project and the rate of dispossession.

Book, Newtownards, 2017, The 1641 Rebellion as a reaction to the hardship 434 pages, price £20 Sterling , caused by dispossession brought matters to a head and intensive warfare continued into the 1650’s. hardback with dust jacket. Surveys of Ulster in the 1640’s and 1650’s are discussed and this is very useful in setting the scene. The book was commissioned by the former Also highly useful is the section on the published Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure as a result secondary sources for the Ulster Plantation. of a recommendation of the ministerial advisory group for the Ulster Scots Academy (MAGUS). It is Chapters 2 – 7 are County by County Gazetteers an archaeological survey and inventory of plantation arranged by Barony covering Countries Antrim, Down, period sites across the six counties of Northern Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh and Derry/London Derry. Ireland and according to the introduction: The The catalogue of sites is arranged roughly along Principle aims of the project have been to identify the lines of an Archaeological Inventory. Chapter the contribution that the Scots made to the process 8 is entitled “Discussion and Conclusion”. Two of plantation, and the collection of an archaeological Appendices occur. The first is on the topic of “Battle sites and monuments related to theirPROOF daily lives, fields 1600 -1650 in Northern Ireland” and the second settlements traditions and culture. Sites associated is a list of site co-ordinates. A glossary, bibliography with the Gaelic Irish and English populations are also illustration credits and an index complete the book. PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR The inventory of sites include plans and photographs included, as all three groups interactedERRORS with IN each DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE other. along with some wonderful extracts from maps all of which are good quality images. The publication is The preliminaries – A Foreword, Acknowledgements, a very handy book of reference and is well produced Project Acknowledgements and List of Abbreviations on good quality paper. It is highly readable and as well occupy pages I –XII as cataloguing sites associated with the Plantation. It provides good succinct descriptions of a good range Chapter I – Introduction is a vital one comprising 18 of sites of archaeological historical and architectural pages with some large illustrations. The Introduction significance and for students of the archaeology has a useful section on the background to the project historical geography and history of the period is a vital and a good exploration of the background to the resource highly recommended. 1610 Plantation including the background to earlier attempts at colonisation in the 1570’s down to the large scale appropriation of native Irish land, the Dr. Jim Higgins dispersions and exiling of the Irish population under the Ulster Plantation Scheme of 1610 onwards. Walter Devereaux 1st Earl of Essex launched his own colonial attack on eastern Ulster in August 1573. His genocidal attacks on Rathlin Island and Dunluce set a pattern in terror against both the earlier Scots settlers and native Irish alike. Piratical plantation in Ulster

27 GALWAY’S HERITAGE - OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE

One of the ties between the two counties appears Will Galway Beat to be the nursery of Gaelic football that was, and continues to be, St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam. Many Mayo? - young men from both Mayo and Galway were reared on football in St’ Jarlath’s and would have How a 1960's played together in Hogan Cup Competitions only to become rivals on the county scene in later years. This G.A.A. rivalry continues to be the case today. Throughout this period of time James Laffey reawakened the describes the visit of President John F. Kennedy to Galway, the thriving, rural ballroom scene in the west West of Ireland, the extensive carnivals that took place to raise money for clubs, the USA trips by county By James Laffey teams (and the “smuggling” of guns on return trips), Clann na Talhmain, poteen making on the island Hardback, €25 of Lettermullen, travelling shops and many other aspects of what was rural Ireland in the 1950’s and James Laffey, in his latest publication, Will Galway 1960’s. While the economy was bleak at that time, beat Mayo?, chronicles not only the great footballing the one sure thing that you could count on was the rivalry that exists between these two great Connacht Connacht Championship each year and the question: counties, but also provides a history of the social and Will Galway Beat Mayo? economic scenes that existed in the west of Ireland from the late 1950’s up to the end of the 1960’s. Micheál Higgins

It is a remarkable piece of work. Not only does the author provide detailed analyses of the lead up to the great matches but he also provides and a very personal insight into the players thoughts and lifestyles. The book has many photographs that had not been published before and the author’s journalistic and research skills come to the fore when he speaks of the effect these games had on the ordinary public, the pride of the people in the maroon and white and the green above the red. For many people at the time, the meeting of Mayo andPROOF Galway in the Connacht championship was one of the key events of the year. PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED IN THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS AND/OR PROJECT / ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT COMPLETION REVIEWED RESPONSIBILITY AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR

James Laffey captures the west of Ireland at ERRORSa time IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE of mass emigration and declining populations despite the major construction developments of Bellacorick and Tynagh Mines. He talks of the bleakness that was experienced by Fr. John D. Flannery, a promising Mayo footballer, who was posted to Inishboffin and oversaw the last of the people to leave Inishshark. There was also the ban on clergy in taking part in sporting fixtures and how they sometimes “overcame” the ban. The radio was a vital mode of communication for many aspects of life but was a key instrument in getting the matches and the results to the masses. When television arrived in the early 1960’s, it was just in time for the G.A.A. to be able to show Galway’s great three-in-a-row All-Ireland Finals wins from 1964 to 1966.

28 were collected. The original material is now in the City of Streams National Folklore collection at University College Dublin. The material from various countries is also Galway Folklore available on microfilm in local libraries. Recently the material has begun to be digitised and the Galway and Folk Life in Schools collection is among the first to be made available and can be accessed at www.duchas.ie . the 1930s The handbook which was distributed to schools outlined in some detail how the material was to be Catríona Hastings collected and ordered. Instead of a usual weekly composition, fifth and sixth class pupils were allowed The History Press Ireland, to write into their copy books the folklore hey had Dublin, 2017, 256pp collected. A percentage of this material was then copied into a log book either by a teacher or one of Price €14.95 the pupils. In some schools the entries were entirely written by the principal teachers. On the 13th of November 1937 between 300 and 400 teachers attended a conference in the Presentation The material presented in Caitríona Hasting’s book is Convent Tuam on the topic of the recent initiative based on the microfilm material in the Galway County of the Department of Education which heralded the Library at Island House only. After providing just the launch of the Schools Folklore Collection in Galway right amount of background information Caitríona City and County. This publication presents a selection in her introduction goes on to discuss language, the of the folklore and folk life traditions collected in and schools and the Irish language and the ‘residual’ Irish around Galway City in 1937 -8 under the Schools spoken in the Galway area in the 1930’s and language Folklore Collection Scheme. usage in 1937 – 1938. Other topics dealt with in the introduction include the recording of oral traditions, The book is based on the contents of the collection Ireland in the 1930’s, farming, electrification, Galway made by senior pupils in fourteen National Schools in the “Hungry Thirties”, fishing, emigration. The in Galway City and its environs. Not all schools Claddagh, Health, Religion, entertainment, sport participated in the scheme but the schools visitors, the wider picture and finally conclusions. The represented in the selections from the collections are methodology the author used in editing her selection as follows: Caisleán Gearr/Castlegar NS; Mionloch/ and the order in which the material has been selected Menlo NS; Ceathrú an Bhrúnaig/Carrowbrowne NS; is described in the section entitled “Editing”. A Short Scoil Naomh Séamus/Freeport NS (Barna); Páirc History of the Galway Schools (pp 35-42) follows the na Sceach/Bushypark N.S: Clochar na Toirbirthe ; Introduction. Six chapters under a variety of topics Rahoon/presentation convent Rahoon;PROOF Chlochar form the main body of the book. These are entitled as na Trócaire (Newstownsmith)/ Convent of Mercy follows (1) My Home place, (2) Hearth and Home, (3) NS (Newstownsmith); Scoil San Nioclás (Buachailli)/ PLEASEPLEASE CONFIRM CONFIRMBEEN THAT GIVEN YOUALL ARTWORKMAY UNDERSTAND RESULT RELATED INBeliefs THAT EXTRA TOISUPPLY FEES THIS and AND/OR PROJECT / Customs, ID3 WILL DELAYS HAS NOT BEEN INACCEPT(4) COMPLETION REVIEWED Oral RESPONSIBILITY Literature, AND OF APPROVEDMY WORK. FOR (5) Prayers, St. Nicholas NS (Boys); Scoil San Nioclás (Cailíní) ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT.Poems I ACKNOWLEDGE Proverbs THAT and CHANGES Riddles, MADE AFTER and APPROVAL(6) Local HAVE History. St. Nicholas NS (girls); Scoil Naomh Brendán/ St Brendan’s NS; Scoil Bhaile – Chlaír na Gaillimhe These chapters occupying pages74 to 253 of the (Buachaillí)/Claregalway NS ( Boys); Urán Mór book and are followed by an Afterword (p.254) and by (Buachaillí) Oranmore NS Boys; Oranmore Convent. Notes (99 255-256). The book is very readable and a joy to dip in and out of for gems of folklore, beliefs The schools Folklore Scheme was devised by Séamus stories and folk life information and social history. It Ó Duilarga and Seán Ó Súilleabhaín as an adjunct to can of course also be read and re-read from cover the Irish Folklore commissions gathering of folklore to cover in a sitting or two. Where the material was from adults and the scheme has been described as recorded in Irish only it is accompanied by Caitríona's “ a great salvage operation financed by the young own translation and a wonderful selection of black independent Irish State”. Using a handbook provided and white photographs enhances the text. These by the Folklore Commission teachers directed the include images provided by Tom Kenny, Galway City School children in seeking folklore from their parents, Museum - Músaem Cathrach na Gaillimhe and N.U.I. grandparents, teachers and older members of their Galway. The book is well laid out and designed and communities and recorded what they heard in school is an intensely readable one which comes highly copy books. Overall the Schools folklore collected recommended. throughout the state was vast (the Northern Irish State refused to cooperate regarding folklore judging Dr. Jim Higgins it to be "irrelevant and superstitions"). In eighteen months 1,128 volumes. (500,000 manuscript pages)

29 PROOF

ERRORS IN DESIGN AFTER THIS POINT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CHANGES MADE AFTER APPROVAL HAVE